Non-medical Personnel in the Operating Room?
asked 1 year ago by takeandbake in Wisconsin
Latest answer by Toby Mayer, MD
Question viewed 177 times
Tags: female, legal, surgery
I go to a skincare center that is part of a facial plastic surgeon's office; the surgeon is double board-certified by both the in USA for facial plastics and ENT. An esthetician said that she works in the OR during sometimes; handling surgical tools, monitoring vitals, etc. However, she is not a RN nor surgical tech. All other staff are estheticians and the surgeon doesn't use an anesthesiologist and uses IV sedation for all procedures. Typical to have non-licensed personnel in OR?
5 answers to Non-medical Personnel in the Operating Room?
+1
Operating room personnel.
The operating room should be certified by one of several operating room accrediting organizations such as AAAHC, IMQ, Etc. They make sure that operating rooms and staff meet certain requirements of quality. Check to make sure this is so with your surgeon's office.
+1
Non-meidcal personnel in the operating room
In Illinois, estheticians are licensed. I often am impressed with the abilities of other skilled professionals to take on additional duties. However, it does remain the primary responsibility of the physician or surgeon to oversee the assistants and allow them to practice within the scope of their skill set. It is not at all unusual to have "non-medical" personel such as technical or mechanical consultants or sales personnel in the operating room.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Safety in the plastic surgery OR
Your surgeon's facility should be AAAASF certified as this is the highest certification available. It requires that the surgeon have hospital priviliges to do what they do in their office, requires qualified anesthesiologists to be present for any sedation or general anesthesia, and a laundry list of other things all for YOUR SAFETY. The things you have mentioned are red flags not to go there!
+1
Operating room personnel
The operating room regulations vary from state to state. I would not necessarily call these people non-medical personnel. In california at least they can function as medical asisstants whose roles are specifically regulated. They help the surgeon but cannot make incisions or suture etc. There has to be somebody there besides the surgeon to hand over instruments, clean the room between cases etc. I would be concerned that procedures are being performed without an anesthestist especially...
more
Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1
Aestheticians in the OR
It is against the law for a non-medical trained person in NY State to be assisting in the operating room. This is probably the same in other states as well.
